Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In response to Deputy Whitmore, the critical point in terms of plans, where we are going and what we will have it to do is set out in an electricity capacity problems policy statement from last November, among several. The critical one was the national energy security framework set out in April this year, at the start of this war. It has worsened but much contained in that has to be delivered. It is about the delivery of real plans such as time-of-day pricing, which I support because it gives the opportunity to people to reduce their bills and helps our security. It is a win-win. It helps our grid stay stable and meet generation capacity at the same time. We have to deliver and continue to evolve that framework, particularly with regard to European policy.

I agree with Senator Higgins that our focus in terms of what we further need to do should primarily be on families on low incomes in houses that are not very energy efficient. If we are to focus on additional measures and make sure with local authorities we are doing them, that is probably most important because they are the most exposed in a high energy price world. It is about the delivery of elements around social protection and the more vulnerable.

In response to Senator O'Reilly, the hydrogen strategy is out for consultation and closes at the end of this week. Anyone can give their views and contribute to it. We have to turn that around and get it out before the end of this year. It will take a number of years before we start seeing the deployment. It is the latter part of this decade, as Dr. Ryan said, but it has a part to play. Critically, we have to ensure any new generation capacity we purchase is compatible with hydrogen. Talking to some of the original equipment manufacturers, OEMs, selling this kit, the first thing they said was whether it was or was not hydrogen-compatible. That is the way the industry is going and the way we need to go.